Alzheimer’s Notes

Are Alzheimer’s Patients More Creative?

by Mary Emma Allen on February 3rd, 2008

At The Tangled Neuron, we learn about Donna Beveridge, in Creativity and Memory Loss.  Since her retirement from teaching and receiving a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, Donna seems to have become much more creative.

The question arises…is this because she has Alzheimer’s?  Or is it simply coincidental?  Of course, now that Donna is retired, she has more time to spend on creative outlets. 

However, I discovered, when my mom was in the nursing home with Alzheimer’s that many of the residents responded to creative activities.  Arts and crafts, scrapbooking, even painting appealed to many of them.  I worked with them on a scrapbooking and family history project which they and I enjoyed.

My mother-in-law didn’t have Alzheimer’s, but was slowly going blind.  She’d never done watercolor painting in her life.  But we have some lovely work she did, with the help of activity staff at the assisted living home, to remember her by. 

If you haven’t encouraged the Alzheimer’s patient(s) under your care to try some creative activities, why now do so now?  Perhaps they have hidden talents like Donna Beveridge and my mother-in-law.

Related Posts:

William Utermohlen Exhibition: Self Portrait of Alzheimer’s Disease

Art Therapy Helps Alzheimer’s Patients

Start a New Hobby and Experience Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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POSTED IN: Activities, Inspiration-Encouragment, Personal Caregiving Experiences